Lebanon station, 1903-1904

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D66

1904

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PRINCETON, N.J.

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BV3210.L4 D66 1904

Doolittle, George Curtis,

1867-1922.

Lebanon station, 1903-1904.

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^ — tEMNON STATION, 1903-1904

Progress in Zahleh. — During the past summer an aged
man returned after many years in Egypt to Zahleh, his native
town. Feeble in health and oppressed in mind, he made special
request that Mr. Jessup come and pray with him, and recounted
to him the events of his early days; how he had thrown the first
stone at Rev. and Mrs. Benton, pioneer missionaries to Zahleh.
Men, women and children had united in forcibly ridding them-
selves of these heretics. Forty-five years have elapsed, and won-
derful have been the changes in Zahleh and vicinity. To-day
there are six foreign workers, welcomed in every home. There
are over thirty Protestant families; the church is situated in the
center of the town; twelve meetings for worship or work are held
each week. The schools on both sides of the valley enroll 125
boys and 250 girls. In the early days Zahleh was on the edge of
missionary operations. Now it is the geographical center of the
Lebanon Station.

ExTEXT OF Work. — In 47 towns and villages evangelistic
work is carried on, with day schools in nearly every one. These
places are grouped into the seven districts of Zahleh, Baalbek,
Meshghureh, Deir-el-Komar, Abeih, Suk el Gharb and Shweir.
In 39 places communion services are held. To meet four such
appointments in each place, fully 150 communions must be held
annually. There are 47 schools with 2,400 children, to examine
whom requires 35 days of solid work. Three missionaries are
now charged with what was formerly done by five. There should
be more ordained Syrians to share the responsibility. This is a
paramount necessity for permanence and progress in the native
evangelistic agency.

Personal Mention. — On New Year's Eve, Professor Patch
gave an illustrated lecture at the Zahleh school on *' Carbon."
The occasion was the dedication of the school building, purchased
in 1902, and recently repaired and improved. Invitations were
responded to by 115 people. The lecture was very interesting,
and was enjoyed by all.

The announced resignation of Mrs. Gerald F. Dale from the
Syria Mission, to accept a position in the Woman's Hospital, of
the College, will cause a vacancy in the ranks of the Lebanon
Station exceedingly difficult to fill. Her unusual fitness for life
and work in Syrian villages has rendered her services invaluable.
We rejoice that Syria is still to have the rich benefit of her Christ-
ian efforts.

Many thanks are due the Bible Societies for rendering possi-
ble the wide distribution of God's Word. Their liberality seems
unbounded. Yet we have endeavored never to part with a book
for less than the highest price obtainable in each case.

For nine months of the year Miss Emily Bird was detained in
the Prussian Hospital, where she was generously cared for by
surgeons and nurses. Upon her return to Abeih, May i6th, over
loo school children visited the house with songs of welcome and
the oriental salutation, " Thank God for your return in peace."
And, although the silk-worm industry was at its height, claiming
closest attention from the people, the missionary home was
crowded with callers — 300 in a month's time, beside the children,
from Abeih and surrounding villages. Miss Bird is making slow,
but gratifying progress. During her long absence her mother,
alone in the home, continued the work.

The loss to the station of Mr. Bird's genial presence and ma-
ture counsels is not dimmed by time. *' He being dead, yet
speaketh." During the summer the plan of his devoted helper,
Amin Fahd, for a memorial porch was realized. Every piaster
of its cost was subscribed by Syrians. It is built of Lebanon
stone, and enhances the appearance of Abeih church. Two tablets
in memory of Rev. Simeon Calhoun and Rev. William Bird are
placed on either side of the arch at the entrance, and the inscrip-
tions are in Arabic and English. It is a fitting tribute to the
labors of these devoted servants of God.

Another monument is building at the entrance to the beauti-
ful Mission grounds at Shweir. It is a tomb, erected by the warm
friends of Dr. William Carslaw out of every religious sect in
Shweir, to receive the body of his son, James, who died early in
September, 1903. This spontaneous memorial from Syrian friends

reveals the heartfelt appreciation of the more than quarter cent-
ury of loving, patient service rendered to Syria by Dr. Carslaw,
both as physician, preacher, pastor and educator. Though the Lord
has called Home an only child, Dr. and Mrs. Carslaw may find com-
fort in the thought that their memory will remain in Lebanon long
beyond the years alloted to sons and to sons' sons. Another tes-
timony of sympathy came from an old pupil, an advocate in
Egypt — a scholarship of ten pounds a year for three years, for the
education of poor boys in the Shweir Boarding School.

Necrology. — The necrology of the Lebanon field contains
the names of twelve communicants, some of them " charter mem-
bers" of Protestantism in their towns. Miss Bird writes, " In
January the oldest of our church members was called to his
Heavenly Home. For years, on pleasant Sabbaths, his seat at
morning service had rarely been vacant, and his bent figure, with
staff in hand, had been an object-lesson in regular church atten-
dance. In March the wife of one of our elders, after a long and
wearisome illness, 'entered into rest.' The poise and calmness
with which these two met their summons was precious testimony
to the reality of their faith in Christ."

In villages near Zahleh death removed two staunch Christ-
ians. Each had passed the allotted "three score and ten." They
were the leading Protostants in their respective communities, and
by their upright, consistent Christian lives, had won the confidence
and esteem of all who knew them.

A sad death occurred in Deir el Komar, — sad, because of its
loneliness. A preacher from the Suk el Gharb district, a young
man eminently spiritual, returned to his Catholic home, dying of
quick consumption. Our pastor visited him, and left instructions
to be called, should the end draw near. Suddenly one night death
came, and ere our pastor heard of it, arrangements had been
made for a Catholic funeral and interment.

The banner school of the Station, at Qobb Elias, has met se-
vere loss in the death of the faithful assistant teacher. Early in
August he fell from a ladder and fractured his leg and arm. After
many weeks of intense suffering and almost daily surgical atten^
tion, recovery seemed assured. Slight fever set in, and ere we

knew it he was gone. At his funeral the concourse was so large,
that the service was held out of doors. The school boys whom he
h.ad trained well in singing-, paid him their last tribute of honor
by singing most appropriately from the school to the grave. No
teacher in our employ was more conscientious than he.

Weddings. — Wedding bells have rung frequently during the
year. Once, when Mr. Jessup was in Ain Zehalteh, they rang
after eleven o'clock at night. He was roused from sleep to marry
a couple, whose united age was somewhere near 135 years. In
the same village occurred the wedding of another pair, who to-
gether could hardly reach 35 years.

On the day after Christmas two members of the Greek Ortho-
dox Church in Zahleh were united in marriage by the missionaries
(because they were own cousins). The bride had been educated
in Protestant schools. As both parties were from influential
families, the ceremony attracted many people, who paid earnest
attention to the gospel advice given to the happy couple. The
next Sunday bride and groom attended the Protestant church ser-
vice, and continued to do so, until in July they united with the
church.

On the 5th of October, 1903, two earnest, practical, Christian
young people were married in Zahleh. The groom was educated
in Sidon Academy. While there he reclaimed his backsliding
father. He went to Canada, but kept before him the purpose to
return, study theology, and preach to his fellow-Syrians. His
first act upon arrival was to teach a month without salary as a
thank-offering for his safety. His wife is indeed one whose "price
is far above rubies." She was educated in the training school of
the British Syrian Mission. This young couple are a joy to those
who have labored to see just such Christian hearts and homes.

Legal Business. — The legal business has included permits
for new church roofs in Muallekeh and Aitenith; purchase of road
privileges in Zahleh; abatement of a long-standing insult and in-
jury to the Zahleh church property; defense of various innocent
Protestants ; help in settling property questions ; transfer of names
to the Protestant tax list; and many other minor problems.

The town of Sughbin furnished a law suit that lasted for

nearly a year. The energ-y of our Biblical preacher so infuriated
the drunken, autocratic priest of the town that he twice entered
our church during service, beat the school boys, struck the
preacher, and broke up the meeting-. A third time he sent an ac-
complice into the church for a similar disturbance. Mr. Jessup
entered complaint against them both. Judgment was rendered
against them, — thanks to the unremitting efforts of the American
Consul in Beirut and the Consular Agent in Damascus.

Changes among Employees. — Five of our teachers left this
year for America and Egypt. The great weight of this loss fell
upon the Zahleh day school. Yusef Haddad, in Mission employ
for more than fifteen years, with unusual gitts as an instructor,
was obliged to resign because of throat trouble. With deep
mutual regret he sailed for New York in June, with his wife and
children. An elder in the church here, he has not forgotten his
Christianity there. As he was selling silk goods in a hotel, he
was asked to tell the fortunes of some women in the parlor. He
demanded a good cash payment in advance. Then he recalled
some of the gestures and mutterings of the Oriental gypsies, and
quite satisfied his American dupes. Assured of this, he turned
upon them with "What do you think I am? You know and I
know that God alone knows the future. I am a Christian and fear
God. There is your money ! "

Another valuable teacher left the Zahleh school at the close
of the year for Egypt. A young man of magnificent physique and
excellent preparation, he built up the school in numbers and
prestige.

The hardest vacancy to fill came after the resignation in
September, 1903, of Rev. Murad Haddad, who for two years had
supplied the Zahleh pulpit. The missionaries took his place for
two months, greatly perplexed as to his successor. Then provi-
dentially came Mufid Yusef, the choicest graduate of the last
theological class. He has proved his entire fitness for this im-
portant post. At Christmas time he married a Sidon Seminary
graduate, who is a worthy help-meet. This summer he was of-
fered a very lucrative position as agent in Beirut for certain British

■firms. He declined, saying that he had consecrated his life to the
preaching of the gospel.

Lebanon Station prefers to pay well for the best men available,
'rather than to increase the number of points for work. With a
force of nearly go Syrian employees, many changes occur annually.
This year there are thirteen places to supply with new employees,
beside as many more necessary changes and removals. The
transfers made on paper in the kalaidoscopic plans of the summer
would mount up into the hundreds!

Education. — Primary education in the village schools has
kept pace with the increasing desire for knowledge. Keen opposi-
tion has been felt in some places. Our schools are the envy and
despair of other sects.

The Greek Bishop was asked by some of the people of Ain
Sindianeh to open a Russian school. Now it happens that our
Protestant school there is one of the best and is crowded with
children. The Bishop knew this, and replied to his petitioners,
"What do you want of a Russian school, when there is a good
Protestant school here?"

In Zahleh Mrs. Jessup and Mrs. Doolittle have conducted a
Tuesday afternoon class to teach any women to read who care to
learn. A Catholic woman became so interested in the Bible, that
she read many hours a day. She has finished the New Testament
and is well on in the Old. A similar class has been taught by a
female teacher near Suk el Gharb.

Emigration has multiplied languages in some of the schools.
In the examination at Muallakeh six different languages might
have been used, to suit the knowledge of the various pupils, —
French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Arabic and English. Two of
the boys were born in Wisconsin, and understood English better
than Arabic. Another was brought up in Tennessee, and had an
unmistakable southern accent. A third boy came from Australia,
with the peculiar, soft inflection of that country.

These Syrian day schools are little light-houses scattered

throughout the land, requiring careful supervision. They are

thoroughly Biblical, and their value is far out of proportion to

itheir cost. New York State last year expended for public educa-

tion $43,195,914. Lebanon Station had $5,000 for its 47 village
schools. Yet from these have arisen the men and women in whom
rest the hopes of Syria.

The epitome of Dr. Carslaw's report of the Shweir Boys'
Boarding" School is as follows: " Eighty-one boys were enrolled,
32 of them full boarders and 18 lodgers; 6 were Protestants, 56
Greek Orthodox, 17 Catholics and 2 Maronites. The health of
the boys was good. The head teacher, Murad Saleeby, B.A., is
highly to be commended. He has introduced athletics, and has
won the boys' attachment. The present excellent condition of the
school is largely due to him. There is a quiet, earnest attention
given to the Bible lessons never seen before. The school this
year very nearly paid all expenses, teachers' salaries included. If
station scholarships for poor-paying pupils had been credited to
the school account, at the rate paid to the other boarding schools,
there would have been a clear balance over all expenses of 1,700
piasters ($60)." (Note) — This excellent financial showing is due
to the thorough business management of both Dr. and Mrs. Cars-
law. The latter, although she is never free from pain, cares for
every detail of daily expense.

The following is the synopsis of Mr. Hardin's report of the
Suk el Gharb Boys' Boarding School: " In the fall of 1903 boys
came in such numbers that we found difficulty at first in providing
for them all; but they were finally accommodated in rather better
fashion than in former years. Of the 167 pupils, 135 were board-
ers and lodgers, and 32 day pupils. Judging from the experience
of recent years, it would not be difficult to beat the record, year
by year, had we the facilities for taking care of larger numbers.
But we ought to cut down the numbers; 125 boarders would
be the comfortable limit. It was a record year in at least one re-
spect,— we never had to expel so many boys for bad conduct and
general worthlessness as during the past year. General society,
both religious and political, is built upon cliques. Boys bring
this feeling with them to school, and it requires much alertness to
get the better of it. Financially the year was a good one. In-
come from pupils rose above the hundred thousand piaster limit
for the first time in the history of the school. If assisted pupils

8

were eliminated, and paying pupils taken in their place, the prob-
lem of self-support would be speedily solved. Our Protestant
brethren are the worst sinners in this respect. They stoutly claim,
in addition to spiritual benefits, a first seat at the temporal table
of loaves and fishes, and they generally get it. Work in study
showed good results at the examinations. Of the first class, 5
entered the Freshman Class, and 5 are teaching in day schools.
Last year Freshman and Senior Classes were led by our boys. On
Sundays we studied the Book of Acts throughout the year. The
Sunday-school paid for a young man's education in Bardezag
High School, in Armenia. Religious instruction was given daily
in all the classes, but we have seen little evidence of personal re-
sults in decided Christian character. Many of the older boys gave
evidence of conscientious thoughtfulness, but it did not ripen into
confession of faith in their Saviour. This is the crucial problem,
and we feel the insufficiency of man and his methods, and must
look to God for His sovereign grace and blessing."

In the Syrian Protestant College there were 88 pupils from
the Lebanon field. In all the higher institutions larger fees are
now paid and with less bargaining than before. The entire
amount for higher education expended by 324 pupils from Leba-
non field during the year was $9,487.65.

Evangelistic. — Church statistics this year are highly encour-
aging. Forty-seven new members were added in Lebanon, — an
increase over last year of nearly fifty per cent. Twenty-nine chil-
dren were baptized. The total membership in the seven organized
churches is 695.

At Deir el Komar, the stronghold of the Maronite Christian
sect, a spiritual blessing descended at the close of a spontaneous
** Decision Day." Several people, nominally Maronites, practi-
cally Protestants, were urged by the visiting missionary openly to
profess their evangelical faith. Finally the two most prominent
ones, both heads of families, passed an evening in earnest discus-
sion, and at its close stood and joined hands, and solemnly de-
clared their purpose to unite with the church at the next com-
munion. After years of seemingly fruitless labor, then and there
began a revival. The Protestant sect was aroused by the earnest

endeavors of these new members. Additions were made at each
successive communion season. A small organ was purchased for
the chapel. Several possible applicants for church fellowship are
found. The pastor is filled with hope.

At Sughbin, despite the opposition of the Catholic priest, the
truth has advanced. The day school is larger by far thsiii ever be-
fore. The church members, few in numbers, are fervent in spirit.
Two earnest young men have recently joined the church, in whom
there is great promise of continued usefulness. One of the school-
boys has prepared an excellent book of Bible proof- texts for Pro-
testant doctrines, culled from his daily readings and arranged by
topics. The idea was entirely his own. For years Sughbin was
accounted barren soil. Now there are signs of harvest.

The Syrian pastor at Shweir writes: ** Most of our meetings
during the week of prayer were very successful. We felt the pres-
ence of the Spirit of God in our midst. With great joy I Inform
you that on Sunday three confessed their faith before all the con-
gregation and joined the church."

Mrs. Dale writes from her summer home in Rlshmeyeh: "It
has been a most delightful time, — the people were never more
cordial, while each of the many visits to their homes is like a re-
ligious meeting, as all are most willing to listen and ask questions.
The Abbot of the Monastery of Elijah has been deposed." He was
the chief cause of reducing our once flourishing school to a mere
handful. Two staunch members have been added to the strug-
gling, persecuted church. One of them is such an excellent car-
penter that the priests cannot prevent the people from employing
him.

In Abeih the year's work has suff"ered, owing partly to MTss
Bird's absence, and also to severe epidemics of typhoid fever and
small-pox. For the first time in its history the Abeih Women's
Sewing Society gave up its winter's work, most of the members
being kept busy at their homes in caring for the sick. During the
summer the church and Sunday-School services were very well
attended.

At Baalbek the coming of several Protestant families from
Mardin, people of Stirling qualities, has put new life into the small

lO

evangelical community. Much talk was aroused by the unex-
pected departure of a Papal nun from the Jesuit convent. She
had by some means become enlightened, and, having- finished her
vow, determined to become a Protestant. Our Baalbek preacher
and his wife were the entirely innocent abettors of her plans.
She came with the wife to the manse at Zahleh, thence went alone
to Egypt, where she is now, so far as is known, teaching in a Prot-
estant school.

The pupils at Haush Barada, a small hamlet near Baalbek,
collected a Turkish dollar during the year and sent it to the Leba-
non treasurer, with the request that it be used in evangelistic
work.

In Zahleh new members have been received at every com"
munion. At the Easter service six new members were received,
and six childrenbaptized.

Over 200 children have attended the Sunday-School, despite
the introduction of weekly offerings. 265 piasters ($9.50) were
collected. 32 books were given as prizes for regular attendance.

The Zahleh Women's Sewing Society, of 59 members, met 19
times in 14 homes, with an average attendance of 28; 83 garments
were made and given away, some with a Bible passage read by the
giver. The receipts amounted to 781 piasters ($28), and 698 piasters
($25) were expended.

The Women's Christian Endeavor Society has 20 active
members. Seven of them joined the church during the year; 476
piasters ($17) were collected, and 448 piasters ($16) were paid for
a scholarship in the Prussian Deaconess' School.

After the arrival of the new pastor in November the place of
holding the men's meetings was changed to a more central posi-
tion, and renewed interest was shown in the Sunday evening
meetings.

On New Year's morning a very helpful, spiritual " sunrise
meeting" was held by the united Societies.

They also joined in an angual celebration on the evening of
July i8th. One of the addresses was made by a Syrian-American,
visiting his home and church. His words had all the freshness of
American Christian Endeavor.

II

Early in April twenty-three delegates from the Lebanon field
attended the Conference of Syrian workers held at the College.

Lebanon Presbytery. -On September 6-9 Lebanon Presbytery
met in Zahleh. Twenty-five members were present, beside two
delegates from Sidon and Tripoli Presbyteries. Many topics of
vital importance were thoroughly discussed. The Complete Form
of Government, arranged by a committee representing the three
Presbyteries and the Mission, was accepted and adopted. An im-
portant financial step was considered which will throw upon the
Presbytery a large part of the responsibility that is now carried by
the missionaries alone. The consummation of this plan will make
more permanent and prominent the part played by the Syrians in
the evangelization of their own land. They were made to realize,
as never before, that we are depending upon them and upon their
children to bear the brunt of the battle in the holy war.

Character Sketches. — Individual lives show the power of
Christianity. In Ras Baalbek is a man who recently returned
after an absence of many years. He went away an ignorant
Catholic. He came back an intelligent Protestant. During his
stay in Hums he had been taught to read by the preacher, and
now knows the Bible thoroughly. "A good man, indeed," is the
testimony of the Ras people. He spends many hours of Sunday
by himself in the mountains, praying for the people of his town.

At Jeditheh our teacher, after winning over his father and
brothers, has turned his attention to the station-master, and in-
duced him to attend church as regularly as railroad duties will
allow.

The preacher-teacher at Aleih has been in Mission employ for
well-nigh three-score years; 45 of them in his present place. His
home is in Suk el Gharb, two miles and a half from his school.
Almost every day for these 45 years, in winter's rain and mud
and summer's heat and dust, he has walked to and fro — five miles
a day. Had he set out to encircle the earth, he would now have
accomplished nearly a half of the third revolution.

Simaan Sejaan, of Metulleh, is a one-time teacher of limited
mental ability, rich in faith, poor in worldly goods. He has been
the sole means of keeping alive the gospel flame in his region.

Years ago he was dropped from the roll of teachers, but has never
desisted from preaching- the g-ospel in his simple way. Early in
the year the people of his hamlet joined with those of another in
asking him to teach their children, offering a small compensation.
He immediately sent word to another ex-teacher, poorer, if pos-
sible, than he, and offered the work to him, because he was more
needy! Such as he will stand near to the King of Love during His
glorious reign.

At Zahleh is an interesting character, — a weaver of native
cloaks, whom to meet brings a blessing. He is a short, thick-set,
powerful man, with a grip like a vise and an ever-present smile.
He cannot read a single word; but by means of his daughter he
has learned the Scriptures by heart, and always has a verse to say
at the Christian Endeavor meeting. While on a trip to sell his
cloaks, our weaver spent some time at a village where we have a
school, and (like Paul of old) mingled religion with business,
bringing in many references to Scripture. His exposition of
Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones evoked some question
as to whether it is found in the Bible. Thereupon this unlearned
artisan directed them tfo the exact chapter, and his doubting
auditors found It just as he had said.

Another pen-picture — a middle-aged stone cutter from Hums,
now residing in Zahleh. A few years ago he was the boon com-
panion of the roughest element among the Greek sect of Hums.
His time was wasted in coffee houses. He could not read and
cared nothing for religion. He was aroused by hearing his
nephew studying his Bible lesson for school in the evenings at
home. Then a Christian relative persuaded him to go to the
Protestant service. From that point onward his progress was
rapid, and to-day he is the most sensible, earnest, active member
in the church and Christian Endeavor Society. A severe trial of
faith came recently in the death of his only child, a promising
boy — a loss doubly great to an Oriental. His Christian fortitude
shone brightly out of the clouds of bereavement, and his faith
never faltered. In the evening after the funeral he said to his
wife, *' Let us read and sing, for we should praise God at all
times."

13

Such are some of the results of mission work In Syria. Every
child educated in our village schools, every young man or woman
who has passed through our higher institutions of learning, every
page printed in our Press, every patient treated in our hospitals,
every person who attends our church services, or hears or reads
the gospel message, may he in God's providence a factor in the
grand onward movement of His Kingdom in the Orient. In Au-
gust, after the inspiring Brummana Conference, a few days were
passed at Aleih, whence was witnessed the wonderful display in
Beirut harbor, in commemoration of King Edward's coronation
day. Twenty British battle-ships had so arranged myriads of in-
candescent electric lights, that as the darkness fell upon harbor
and city and plain, the forms of these twenty iron-clads stood out
from the darkness like a fleet of fairy ships, at times lost to view
as the mists crept up the mountain-side, and again appearing in
all their exquisite beauty. And this transcendent display was
caused by single lamps, grouped and arranged by a master hand.

Let us, then, keep brightly burning the many lamps of truth
and purity that have been lighted in Syria, assured that God, the
loving, all-wise Creator is preparing them to beautify the Heavenly
City.

George^C. Doolittle.

Date Due

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